Educate your skin

I created educate your skin to provide you with important information regarding different skin types, conditions and the root causes that cause these skin conditions.

I have over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry and have worked for many skincare brands delivering 5-star facial treatments and recommending medical grade and premium skincare products for all ages, ethnicities and skin conditions.

Many of the brands I worked for only concentrated on fixing the surface problem (quick fix) and the underlining root causes were never discussed.

My story

I suffered from Acne in my teens and felt very self-conscious about my appearance which resulted in low self-esteem. I also have PCOS which is a hormonal imbalance that affects about 1 in every 10 women. Symptoms can range from Acne, excess hair growth, mood swings, anxiety, weight gain, infertility, mental health and many more symptoms.

"Like many others" I was prescribed the contraceptive pill, antibiotics and strong topical creams to treat the surface problem but was never told how to cure the cause of the conditions or even why they manifested in the first place.

I have used every acne product, tried every facial, and acupuncture for my PCOS and still, I would get hormonal acne every month without fail.

At the age of 28, I started getting digestion problems, constipation, head scabs, bad breath, weight gain, skin rashes, skin sensitivity and many more symptoms. I went back to the GP as I felt it was something to do with food intolerances and they referred me to a Dermatologist. The dermatologist told me to do a food diary and start cutting food groups out for 4 weeks to see if the symptoms improved. I did this and some symptoms did improve but I had no clear indication of what food group or if it was more than one. I decided to go private and do a food allergy and sensitivity test and to my surprize, so many food groups came up with having a serve reaction in my body not to mention dust, mould, fragrance e.t.c

My healing journey

Now I had an idea as to what was causing my symptoms I started cutting out the foods and allergies and started researching the foods I had been eating and the toxins going into my body.

I came across something called Leaky gut and I had every single symptom. I found a lady online who specialised in the 21-day gut detox (check the 21-day detox page out to find out more) and I brought the detox straight away. This detox was life-changing for me! Not only did most of my symptoms completely go by the end of the detox, my skin had never looked so good, and I was having a bowel movement every day. Toxins were coming out of my body instead of being reabsorbed into my bloodstream and being pushed out through my skin as acne. My periods became regular after the detox and I even felt it had improved my mental health. I decided to do another detox 3 months after as each detox goes deeper into the body.

During the second lockdown, I did a Diploma in Food allergies, intolerances and vitamin deficiency. I learned so much about how food, toxins, endocrine disruptors and vitamin deficiency affect the skin. I did a private blood test with Forth with life and sure enough, it came up that I was anaemic and had low vitamin D which is actually a very important hormone.

I also did a microbiome stool test which came up with a number of pathogens and high levels of bad bacteria in my body even after doing 2 gut detoxes. I am currently working with an Integrative practitioner to balance my body, mind and my hormones. The reason I am sharing this with you is that every day I see clients that come in for facials that have skin issues from allergies, food intolerances, toxin build-up in the body, parasites, bad bacteria, and candida, poor gut health and digestion.

My mission is to help every client understand why they have skin conditions, what they can do to cure their bodies from the inside out and help them to be healthy, confident & the best version of themselves.

I wish when I was at my worst I would have had someone that could have helped me get on track and tell me what I needed to do. It would have saved a lot of time, money, and trial and error, not to mention suffering from mental and physical pain every day.

Skin microbiome

The skin microbiota is the term used to describe the millions of different organisms, bacteria, viruses and fungi that live on the human skin.

Our skin microbiome we get at birth from the vaginal delivery or if there is a C-section the skin microbiome will be made up of the people in the delivery room who transfer their own skin microbiome onto the baby.

Previous studies hinted that babies delivered by C-section fail to acquire some microbes from their mothers that vaginally delivered children do. Babies born by C-section lacked strains of commensal bacteria that were typically found in healthy individuals, whereas these bacteria made up most of the gut community of vaginally delivered infants. Instead, the guts of C- C-section babies were dominated by opportunistic bacteria such as Enterococcus and Klebsiella, which circulate in hospitals.

The skin microbiome changes all the time but this shows that gut health plays such an important part in every function of the body including our skin.

The skin is the largest detoxifying organ in our bodies and will push out any toxins, food intolerances, allergies, poor digestion and hormones, resulting in acne, pigmentation, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.

Gut microbiome

(There is more information on the 21-day gut detox page about the gut microbiome)

Everything that is absorbed or consumed in the body like medication, antibiotics, contraceptive pills, pollen, dust, mould, skincare, BPA, endocrine disruptors, perfume, washing detergents etc. will affect your gut microbiome.

If we eat foods or consume allergies we are allergic to or have an intolerance to, it will cause inflammation in the body.

The gut wall is made up of layers and should be sealed. when the body becomes inflamed it weakens the gut lining and toxins, proteins, hormones, bacteria and poor digestion leak into the bloodstream causing a leaky gut.

This causes an immune response as it treats the substances as foreign invaders and will start to attack them. This causes constant inflammation in the body which will result in the skin pushing out the toxins in the form of acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, pigmentation and other skin conditions.

If you would like to know more about how you can detox, repair your gut, rebalance your hormones and improve your skin book a free consultation to find out more.

Stress

There are 3 different types of stress physical, chemical and emotional stress. Physical stress is caused by trauma, accidents, injuries, falls etc. Chemical stress is caused by flu, bacteria, viruses, blood sugar levels, toxins, food, allergies etc. Emotional stress is caused by family tragedies, second mortgages, single parenting, traffic jams etc. All types of stress can knock the brain and body out of balance if the stress continues for long periods of time.

When you feel stressed, your sympathetic nervous system releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline into your body. Cortisol causes increased oil production in your skin glands, which can lead to clogged pores and acne breakouts.

Stress can also cause inflammation through the gut-skin connection. Stress impacts the balance of bacteria in your gut, which leads to a release of inflammation. Internal inflammation can manifest externally as skin conditions such as acne, eczema, hives, skin rashes, dermatitis and psoriasis flare-ups.

Allergies, toxins, food allergies and food intolerances cause inflammation in the body resulting in leaky gut and poor gut health.

The environment we live in today was not the environment our bodies were made for (stressful jobs, social media, bullying, body dysmorphic, trauma, abuse, bills, money, weight). When we are constantly in the fight or flight stage our bodies go into survival mode, this activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response.

If you imagine driving a car and putting your foot on the gas and the other one on the brake this is what is happening in the body which will cause heart incoherence. Heart incoherence will cause changes in heart rate and breath (shallow breathing) which also causes imbalances in the body and disease.

Mental health

Everyone at some point in their life will experience mental health issues. we all have emotions and unfortunately, we don't all get taught by our parents how to regulate our emotions. Sometimes our parents did not learn from their parents and as a result, they mimic the parenting style they were taught to their children. In some cultures, it can be extremely hard for people and men to express their feelings as it may be classed as weak or shameful to their families and the community. This results in stored emotional trauma in the body, depression and mental health issues. This will cause blockages in the energy centres and as a result, can cause illness, hormonal imbalances, OCD, controlling behaviours, mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Having a parent myself with a mental health disorder I know a lot about inherited trauma and how genetics, energy and stress are passed down to their children which can cause ADHD, OCD, Asperger's and AUTISM. Children/ adults with these disorders do not deal with stress very well and as a result, their bodies are constantly in fight or flight which can lead to PCOS, hormonal imbalances, mental health & and skin disorders. Also, diet plays a massive part in their cognitive function and gut health.

Vitamin Deficiency

A vitamin and mineral deficiency is where the body is lacking in these vitamins and minerals and as a result, will cause all sorts of issues in the body and the skin. The most obvious cause of vitamin deficiency is related to your diet. Vitamins are complex molecules that are present in fruit, vegetables, grains, meat, poultry and seafood. People who suffer from leaky gut (where the gut wall is damaged) will not absorb the nutrients, vitamins and minerals in food and even supplements as well.

Since taking a good vitamin D3 supplement and changing my diet I have seen a massive difference in my skin and my low vitamin D and Anaemia. Clients who have darker skin tones will not produce as much vitamin D as someone with lighter skin. Darker skins protect them from high levels of UV and protect their skin from burning. Their genetics are determined by where their parents were born (hot country). If a person with darker skin is living in a country like the UK where there are not long periods of sun, their skin will not get enough Vitamin D and can become deficient resulting in bone/joint problems as well as acne and skin problems.

Anaemia (iron deficiency) affects more than 30% of the total population it is a deficiency in the quality of red blood cells in your body. Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body using a particular protein called haemoglobin.

As I am not a nutritionist I will just keep this to what Vitamins and mineral deficiency affect the skin.

Niacin, vitamin B3, B12, B6, vitamin K, biotin, Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin A, C, D are the main ones.

A deficiency will cause skin issues such as dermatitis, dark circles, scaly rash, Acne, pigmentation, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, slow skin healing, skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis, cracked lips, dry, flaky skin, dandruff and much more. To find out if you have a vitamin and mineral deficiency you will need to do a full blood test either by the GP or go private as sometimes the GP will not test all markers.

Tests

I now offer York allergy, food intolerance, vitamin deficiency and hormonal blood tests which will indicate what health issues you have and help to come up with an elimination process and diet and supplement plan for you to heal your body, mind and most importantly improve your skin. If you are taking supplements you must know what you are low in before taking them as blind supplementing can cause more harm than good! Remember a leaky gut will leak anything going into the blood steam and your brain won't get the nutrients from your food or your supplements.

During the lockdown, I started a YouTube channel where I updated more in-depth videos each week on food allergies, intolerances, PCOS, hormonal imbalances, endocrine disruptors, diets, supplements, gut health, gut detox, and treatments and much more. My channel is called RP Beauty Clinic by Rebecca Pearl feel free to go check it out if the information above is relating to you or if you would like to know more.

Skin types

Mature Skin

Mature skin is somewhat lacking in tone and may be jowling, with fine wrinkles and expression lines. A true dry skin will have very small pores and no sign of oil or blackheads. You may notice your skin lacks collagen and elastin and feels in need of tightening. The new Deluxe Pro hydra facial with RF frequency and ION frequency will help hydrate, lift, tighten and tone your skin.

Acne Prone Skin

Acne-prone skin is subject to bursts of painful nodules caused by hormonal changes. You may also suffer from breakouts caused by food sensitivities such as dairy, gluten, eggs, soy milk, fish oils or peanuts. There are actually 4 different types of acne and each one should be treated with different skincare products and facial treatments. Active acne will generally be sore, red, inflamed skin with deep cystic acne. Calming products and healing creams/ lotions are recommended along with gentle cleansing and high-frequency facials (calming active acne facial). Tough acne on thicker combination skin types will require AHA's, acids and deeper exfoliation to get a better result especially if there is acne scarring (deep cleansing facial or tough acne chemical peel facial). For Acne scarring, micro-needling is amazing (6-12 treatments are recommended).

Dry Skin

Dry skin has smaller-sized pores with no sign of blackheads. Your skin feels in constant need of nourishment. I would recommend products with a balm-like texture or thick, rich healing recovery creams. The Pro hydra facial would be great for gentle cleansing, exfoliation, lactic acid for brightening the skin and is also great for hydration.

Combination Dry Skin

Combination/dry skin is more dry than oily. A few blackheads can be found, mostly on your nose and chin rather than your forehead and cheeks. Pores are usually on the smaller side. The pro-hydra facial or deep cleansing facial would be good for this skin type and concerns.

Oily Skin

Oily skin is indicated by blackheads – which are caused by oil – covering the whole face: cheeks, forehead, chin, nose and even inside your ears. Pores tend to appear enlarged. Skin is often shiny and oily throughout the day, although not always as it may be suffering from surface dryness. This skin type will require deeper exfoliation, crystal microdermabrasion, steam, extraction and chemical peels. (deep cleansing facial, tough acne facial or micro-needling for acne scarring.)

Combination Oily Skin

Combination/oily skin is more oily than dry, with an oily T-zone that is really more V-shaped, extending from the forehead down across the cheeks under your eyes and narrowing towards the chin. Blackheads are typically found in this area, which is often also oily and shiny unless there is surface dryness. (deep cleansing facial, Pro-hydra facial or gentle chemical peel)

Dehydrated skin

All skin types, ages, skin tones and skin concerns can be dehydrated and most are. Dehydration and dry skin easily get mixed up. Dehydration in the skin will look like fine crossed hatched surface line, loss of elasticity, when you stretch the skin these should disappear. The skin can appear dull and is lacking in water, not oil. Dehydration can present as dark circles and itchiness. when treating oily skin with dehydration I recommend gels and light lotions that are water-based. Lots of oily skin types use foaming cleansers or harsh toners which can dry/dehydrate the surface top layer which will make the skin tight and oil gets trapped underneath. As a result, it is hard to extract blackheads and congestion as it will not get through the dry top layer of skin. The Pro hydra facial is a great facial for this skin type as it will put pure hydration back in the skin, improve skin tone, tighten skin and deep cleanses and exfoliates using a gentle acid peel, the Deluxe Pro facial will help with any signs of ageing.

Inflammatory skin conditions

Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and rosacea are all inflammatory skin conditions. They are caused by inflammation, stress and gut dysbiosis in the body. Most people that have this skin condition will have a leaky gut. A leaky gut is caused by several factors that cause inflammation in the body. Food allergies, allergens, food intolerance, toxins, stress, environment, mental health, Autism, ADHD, OCD, anxiety disorders, emotional stress, chemical stress, injury, and diet. alcohol, excessive heat, dust, pollen, mould, or any substance or product that comes into contact with the skin. When the body gets a build-up of these toxins or the heart goes into incoherence from stress it will cause an imbalance or diseases in the body. when substances, toxins, hormones, and proteins leak into the bloodstream via the gaps in the gut wall (leaky gut) it will cause an inflammatory response in the immune system and this will push it out through the skin as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea, skin rashes, dandruff, head scabs and many more. When the immune system becomes compromised it will affect other issues in the body such as hay fever, allergies to everything, hives, food sensitivities and sinus problems. I would only recommend a gentle hydrating cleanser and healing recovery cream to help calm, hydrate and repair the skin. If a client has very mild rosacea I can do a Pro hydra facial but I would not treat a client with inflamed skin. This needs to be treated from the inside out. I am not a GP so if you feel it needs medical care I would advise you to visit your doctor. What I can recommend is to go on an inflammatory diet and cut out as many triggers which are causing the inflammation in the body. Things like meditation, diet, detox skincare, detox and gentle exercise will help. Getting a food allergy and sensitivity test will help you identify food groups, and allergens and some also include mineral deficiency. Also, clients with inflammatory skin conditions may lack, Iron, Magnesium and Zinc, A private blood test would be a good idea.

Pigmentation, freckles, hyperpigmentation, sun spots & Melasma

The colour of a person's skin is usually determined by genetics, prototype (Fitzpatrick scale) and how much sun exposure they get. Melanin is the natural pigment that controls skin colour, which the body secretes to protect skin from UV rays which help our skin tan.

Pigmentation problems are linked to poor melanin functioning, toxin build-up, autoimmune conditions, stress, Vitiligo, albinism or depigmentation (lighter spots) on the skin.

There are many factors externally and internally that can cause pigmentation conditions. Heat, saunas, steam room, UV rays, sunbeds, holidays, poor aftercare, picking blemishes and not wearing SPF are some examples of external causes.

Hormones, imbalances, pregnancy, PCOS, contraceptive pill, antibiotics, medications, stress, diet, toxin build-up, poor gut health, allergies, food intolerances and autoimmune conditions can cause internal issues resulting in pigmentation conditions. Every day we consume thousands of toxins from skincare products, environment, diet etc. when our bodies become full we get a build-up and our liver can not filter all the toxins and will push this through the skin as Acne, pigmentation, rashes and inflammatory conditions. Acne can also leave hyperpigmentation as well as vitamin deficiency. A detox is a good way to help flush out toxins and also switching to natural products will help the body function properly. Hormones can trigger Melasma and pregnancy mask. When the hormones settle down and rebalance the pregnancy mask will start to fade. Constant sun exposure and using sunbeds will cause sun damage and ageing to your skin. wearing a hat and a good physical SPF will help protect against further sun damage. Pigmentation and Melasma are some of the hardest skin conditions to treat. The longer the pigmentation is left the deeper it can go and will be harder to treat.

IPL is great for treating pigmentation and age spots although not suitable for skin types 4,5, & 6 because of the short wavelength.

Lactic acid and chemical peels can be effective in treating surface pigmentation and melasma. Very gentle micro-needling is a brilliant option for treating all pigmentation conditions not to mention skin tightening, pore reduction, strengthening the skin barrier and producing more collagen and elastin. Prescription products like tretinoin and Hydroquinone will help bleach and exfoliate the skin although is not suitable for some skin types and tones. Freckles if you are born with them are not sun damage and may not be a concern for you. Freckles that appear when skin is exposed to strong sun and UV are sun damage and can be treated.

Although there are a lot of options for treating pigmentation conditions remember that if it is being triggered by internal problems it will not matter what you use on your skin (it may help fade it) it will continue to manifest from the inside out.

Treatments I offer for pigmentation disorders are: Rejuvi skin lightening chemical peel, pro-facial and micro-needling.

If you would like to book a free 30 mins skin consultation with me you can do so via my online booking system. This can be done via zoom or at home if you would prefer.

All facials start off with a full skin analysis, every facial is custom to your own concerns, I will also put together a product and treatment plan for you.